Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Spring is really happening here! The swallows came back and are busy revamping the nest in Janow's stall. This is the 4th or 5th year for that nest and it's getting to be pretty big. They add to it every year.

I have seen a few kildeer running around, but haven't seen a nest yet. Usually, now that there are so many people at Indian Hill, someone will put a cone by the nest to protect it. Kildeer build thier nest of pebbles on the ground.

The turkeys are in full mating display. Their wattles have turned bright red and blue and their feathers have an iridescent sheen.

Monday I saw two jack rabbits playing/flirting around the trailers. Of course, I didn't have my camera with me on ANY of these sightings!

Tomorrow I go back to the Dr. for my foot. It's really been giving me a hard time and I can barley walk around. The less I walk, the better I feel, but it's really hard. Grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, and just being around the house. There's always something.

I went to the hardware store sale and got basil plants for Silver Rabbit. I had already planted one parsley and one cilantro for her, and one mint(in a pot!) It is obvious that her consumption will ooutpace the growth of these few plants, so I got more than on basil and a few more parsley plants. I wanted to take a picture but yesterday was rainy.

Janow went to the park with Jay on Monday and came back all sweaty. Jay reported a good ride without spooking and only one of those Lipizzan airborn things. He goes again today. Janow is doing a lot better since I had Phil the horseshoer put pads back on in front.

Monday, March 29, 2010

The resident bun here, Silver, seems depressed. When Joseph and Dave go to the Possum Lodge for the weekend, it is quieter here and Sliver gets to be out more. I think she likes it, but it reminds her of life M-F. I need to do something.

Janow got his pads back on the front on Friday and seemed much better Saturday and Sunday. He warmed up faster and better,m but he is bored with the ranch ride. Jay is going to take him to the park today for a real trail ride. I hope they have a good time.

I am making inner quilts for saddle pads. That is boring. But.... the weather is warmer and sunnier, batik outdoors is comming! Now, about the Dharma order..... one of everything is too much, gotta pair down.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

More pictures from the Possum Lodge. Dave likes me to put these pics up for his Mom, who is an avid guest and consummate lurker. "Hi Mom!"

"A study done at Harvard University indicates that this (Health Care Expenses) is the biggest cause of bankruptcy, representing 62% of all personal bankruptcies. One of the interesting caveats of this study shows that 78% of filers had some form of health insurance, thus bucking the myth that medical bills affect only the uninsured."

--Mark P. Cussen for InvestopediaI am having Jay ride Janow on the trails at Ed Levin Park. I know Janow can be a handfull in the park and my back can't handle it, but Janow needs something fun and he likes the park. Jay's first ride was Monday. He knows Janow a bit because I have ridden with Jay when he has been on other horses. Monday, they got to know each other on the ranch.Janow spooked at Squirrels, then he spooked at turkeys. Jay said they were fake spooks. Of course! Janow kills squirrels that bother him when he is eating. I find the bodies. Ew. Janow also likes to chase turkeys, which Jay found out by having Janow chase a turkey after the turkeyspook. All you have to do is show him the turkey you want to chase and let him go.

I think they will be fine now.The weather has been great this week! I have been able to open the garage door and enjoy the air while I sew.

In the background, you can see the '99 Ford with 96K miles that gets better mpg than some hybrids! Of course, they are the "luxury" hybrids and probably have GPS systems instead of cassette decks.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Friday, March 19, 2010

This is what happened when we did not put the bread away. Dave says he noticed Whiskers checking it out and he put the dishtowel over it. Then he washed and dried his hands on the towel, leaving it off the bread. This was the day he came home and deposited a bag of groceries on the counter, expecting me to take care of it. I did see it. The ice cream melted. We had to drink it. I didn't get mad. It wasn't that important.

Silver the Beautiful Rabbit was innocent, as usual.

Janow got new shoes on Wednesday and he stepped out much better. The next day he was very sore. The pounding hurts him. I gave him some bute and took him for a short walk. I am too lame for more than that. Argh! Today he was better. He got more bute and Dave walked him for me. He seemed fine. Tomorrow I might ride.

I have a CM Playday trailer bought in 1995. It has a ramp that is very hard to lift. I can't lift it any more. Sue is selling her trailer, an '83 Miley. It is a step up, so I thought I could buy it and sell mine. Dave and I looked at it today. It wasn't always a step up. It has been modified and repaired. Mine is in better shape and about the same size. Maybe I can modify mine? The back doors would need re-enforcement. It has butt chains, not bars. Do I need to have a butt bar installed? I need to find out. I need to look at other trailers. There are about 35 trailers stored at the ranch. I need to go snooping, or just ask people.

Monday, March 15, 2010

From Telegraph.co.ukTWO POLICE OFFICERS GIVEN RUN AROUND BY GIANT WHITE RABBITTwo police officers were given the run-around for 20 minutes in a low-speed pursuit of a giant white rabbit on the loose in a town centre.

Pcs Matt Jackson and Yasmin Mossadegh, of Kent Police, came across the two-foot long, 20lbs animal - the size of a small dog - hopping along a road in Canterbury at 2.20am on Sunday.

After spending 10 minutes fruitlessly trying to grab the animal - even resorting to using their jackets as matador capes in a bid to snare the creature - they had to call on eight members of the public to help out.

"Pet-loving members of the public who were passing by saw us struggling and rushed to our assistance. Now, with 10 pairs of hands at the ready, the rabbit's time on the run was coming to an end."

The rabbit has been nicknamed Tiny and is currently being cared for by staff at Barton Veterinary Hospital in New Dover Road.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

We’ve been tagged by Diana, The Spots, Amelia Earheart and Harriet the Spay, all of the The Qi Papers We have to tell seven things about us that you don’t know, then tag seven other people.

Silver will do hers tomorrow.

Seven things about me that you don't know:1. Box and Whisker plots fascinate me2. I've been on Carson. Actually, I was the hand model in an all purpose cleaner commercial aired during The Tonight Show when Johnny Carson was the host.3. I had a crush on Roddy McDowell on the TV show Planet of the Apes4. I can't touch-type5. I pooped in the front yard when I was 5. If it was OK for our dog Smitty....6. I am afraid of the mail7. I have 3 months of emergency toilet paper for three people hidden somewhere in our house.

Today's Monday Bunday is another waiting bun. Victoria, a small young girl at Humane Society Silicon Valley here in Milpitas. She is spayed and micro chipped. Her adoption fee is sponsored so you wouldn't have to pay it. That leaves more money for rabbit toys! So cute!

I'm sure there are shelters and rescue groups in your area with many more rabbits waiting for their forever home.

You can find out about the personalities of many of the rabbits available for adoption. They have been handled/loved by staff and volunteers, often even fostered in someones home. This is great for finding just the rabbit for you. When you get a baby, they are cute, but you can't always tell how they will be when they are grown. The House Rabbit Network lists tons and tons of buns looking for homes, and often tells about each one with lots of pictures.

Of course, research rabbit needs, physical and social, and talk to rabbit owners to make sure a rabbit is the right pet for you. They take more care than hamsters or goldfish! (yes yes, hamsters are special too!)

Saturday, March 06, 2010

I had my driving lesson Wednesday. The weather was supposed to clear. It didn't, but I got the best part of the day. We had use of an indoor arena down the road and only got a little damp going to and from.

We drove Nutmeg down to a neighboring indoor arena and practiced cones. Haven't done that in a long time. Little rusty. Little! The footing was deep and boggy in places so the cart got bogged a bit, then unbogged, then bogged again. The sound echoed off the walls funny. These things bothered Nutmeg who is a brave but sensitive girl. There was an odd kind of pole in the center. She was wary and when it moved out of her field of vision, she wanted to veer away. Interesting. Remember, these things are supposed to happen in lessons.

Got back home to Milpitas an hour and fifteen minutes later. Tried to ride Janow but it hailed and we hurried back to the stall. THEN there was thunder! Don't want to be on top of a horse with steel shoes on in a thunder storm. No sirree Bob!

Some pictures Dave took on Mt Hamilton last weekend:Joseph FINALLY got a hair cut! He wanted one and told me he wanted one, but when I had time to take him, he didn't want a hair cut. Then he wanted a hair cut but I didn't have time to take him. Then I had time to take him and he didn't want a hair cut....... Whatever.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Here is the second driving bridle. I sent the first one back because it was too small. He definitely has room to grow in this one! But it will work.He is not so happy in it since he can't see. I had a hard time taking a photo from the side since it was just me and he didn't want me out of sight. He is much more dependant and docile with blinders!Sunday in the SF Bay Area we had glorious weather! The sun was out, it was warm. Everybody was riding around grinning. Janow was very happy and walked very fast and loose. I had been worried about his feet hurting him because he was walking so slow, but when the sun came out his old walk returned. It was especially great because we had gotten soaked on our ride on Saturday. Sadly, Monday the gloom returned and today we got rained on again.